🇦🇺 Working time rules
Working Time Rules: Australia
Australia: standard working hours, overtime, rest, annual leave, and record-keeping rules - a practical overview, not legal advice.
This is a general overview, not legal advice. Limits, reference periods, exceptions, and record-keeping duties vary by sector and contract and change over time. Confirm the current rules with the official source and a qualified adviser.
Standard work week38 hours per week7.6 hours a day over 5 days
Minimum annual leave20 days20 days (4 weeks) annual leave by law. Plus 10 days personal/sick leave.
Statutory working time
Under the Fair Work Act 2009 (s.62), full-time employees may not work more than 38 ordinary hours per week. Employers may request reasonable additional hours beyond 38, but employees may refuse requests that are unreasonable.
Overtime
Full-time hours are 38 a week plus reasonable additional hours. Overtime and penalty rates are set by the applicable modern award or enterprise agreement.
Rest periods
Breaks and rest periods are set by the relevant award or enterprise agreement.
Record-keeping
Employers must keep time-and-wages records and issue pay slips under the Fair Work Act.
What to check before you rely on this
- The current statutory limits, reference periods, and any opt-outs.
- Sector or collective-agreement rules that may override the defaults.
- How overtime is authorised, recorded, and compensated.
- What working-time records you must keep and for how long.